Barangay Ginebra is heading back to the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals after a dominant 126-99 victory over NorthPort in Game 5 of the semifinals on Friday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Ginebra’s Commanding Performance
The Gin Kings led 62-53 at halftime, but it was in the third quarter that they truly broke away. A Jamie Malonzo three-pointer at the 5:52 mark extended their lead to 89-58, their biggest advantage of the game. They cruised to victory from there, closing the third at 97-76 before sealing the win.
Key Performers for Ginebra:
- Justin Brownlee: 21 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals
- RJ Abarrientos: 20 points, 10 assists, 4 rebounds, 2 steals
- Jamie Malonzo: 20 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists
- Japeth Aguilar: 18 points
- Scottie Thompson: 14 points
Meanwhile, NorthPort’s Kadeem Jack led all scorers with 31 points, while Allyn Bulanadi added 26 points. However, Arvin Tolentino was limited to just 9 points, contributing to NorthPort’s struggles.
Ginebra vs. TNT in the Finals
With the win, Barangay Ginebra advances to the best-of-seven Finals series against TNT Tropang Giga, which kicks off on March 14. This marks a rematch of last conference’s Governors’ Cup Finals, where TNT defeated Ginebra to claim the championship.
Final Scores:
Barangay Ginebra 126 – Brownlee 21, Abarrientos 20, Malonzo 20, J. Aguilar 18, Thompson 14, Rosario 11, Ahanmisi 9, Holt 7, Mariano 2, Pinto 2, Adamos 2, Cu 0, Pessumal 0, R. Aguilar 0.
NorthPort 99 – Jack 31, Bulanadi 26, Munzon 12, Taha 10, Tolentino 9, Navarro 9, Onwubere 2, Nelle 0, Flores 0, Cuntapay 0.
Quarters: 23-22, 62-53, 97-76, 126-99.